Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - <b>Title I: Department of Defense </b>- Appropriates funds for FY2008 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force (military departments), DOD, the Army and Air National Guard, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force reserves; (2) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (3) family housing and related operation and maintenance for the military departments and DOD; (4) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund; (5) chemical demilitarization construction; and (6) the Department of Defense Base Closure Accounts of 1990 and 2005.

Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this title and in other military construction appropriations Acts.

(Sec. 113) Directs the Secretary of Defense to notify the appropriate congressional committees 30 days in advance of the plans and scope of any proposed military exercise involving U.S. personnel if construction costs are anticipated to exceed $100,000.$750,000.

(Sec. 118) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriations committees on actions proposedtaken by DOD and the Department of State to encourage other members of NATO, Japan, South Korea, and U.S. allies bordering the Arabian Sea to assume a greater share of the common defense burden of such nations and the United States.

(Sec. 121) Prohibits this Act's funds from being obligatedRequires the Secretary of the military department concerned, at least 60 days prior to issuing any solicitation for Partnershipa contract with the private sector for Peace programsmilitary family housing, to notify the appropriations committees of any guarantees (including the making of mortgage or rental payments) proposed to be made to the private party in the new independent statesevent of: (1) the closure or realignment of the former Soviet Union.installation for which the housing is provided; (2) a reduction in force of units stationed at such installation; or (3) the extended deployment overseas of units stationed at such installation.

(Sec. 122) RequiresAuthorizes the Secretarytransfer of the military department concerned, at least 60 days prior to issuing any solicitationDOD funds for a contractexpenses associated with the private sector for military family housing, to notify the appropriations committees of any guarantees (including the making of mortgage or rental payments) proposed to be made to the private party in the event of: (1) the closure or realignment of the installation for which the housing is provided; (2) a reduction in force of units stationed at such installation; or (3)Homeowners Assistance Program under the extended deployment overseasMetropolitan Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of units stationed at such installation.1966.

(Sec. 123) Authorizes125) Places specified restrictions and limitations on the transferobligation or expenditure of DOD funds made available in this title or in any other military construction appropriations Act to carry out a military construction, land acquisition, or family housing project at or for expenses associated with the Homeowners Assistance Programa military installation approved for closure, or for supporting a function that has been approved for realignment to another installation, in 2005 under the Metropolitan Demonstration CitiesDefense Base Closure and Metropolitan DevelopmentRealignment Act of 1966.1990.

(Sec. 125) Requires<b>Title II: Department of Veterans Affairs</b> - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary or any other DOD official, when requested by specified congressional subcommittees to respond to a question or inquiry pursuant to a subcommittee hearing or other authorized activity, to respond to such request within 21 days.Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) veterans' benefits programs; (2) readjustment benefits; (3) veterans insurance and indemnities; (4) the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund; (5) the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program; (6) the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program; (7) guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans; (8) the Veterans Health Administration (including for medical and prosthetic research; (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of the Inspector General; (11) construction for major and minor projects; (12) grants for the construction of state extended care facilities and veterans cemeteries; and (13) information technology systems.

(Sec. 127) Places specifiedSpecifies restrictions and limitations onauthorizations regarding the obligation or expenditureuse of funds made availableappropriated in this title or in any other military construction appropriations Act to carry out a military construction, land acquisition, or family housing project at or for a military installation approved for closure, or for supporting a function that has been approved for realignment to another installation, in 2005 under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990.title.

(Sec. 128) Provides for210) Makes funds from this title available to reimburse expenses of the transferOffice of lapsed unobligated military constructionResolution Management and family housing funds into the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Defense account.Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, within specified limits.

(Sec. 129) Prohibits this Act's funds from being used in connection with216) Directs the constructionSecretary of an outlying landing fieldVeterans Affairs (Secretary, for purposes of this title) to allow veterans eligible under existing VA medical care requirements and who reside in Washington County, North Carolina.Alaska to obtain medical services from facilities supported by the Indian Health Service or tribal organizations.

<b>Title II: Department of Veterans Affairs</b> - Authorizes(Sec. 219) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to the appropriations forcommittees on the Departmentfinancial status of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration; (2) readjustment benefits; (3) veterans insurance and indemnities; (4) the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund; (5) the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program; (6) the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program; (7) guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans; (8) the Veterans Health Administration (including for medical and prosthetic research and information technology systems); (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of the Inspector General; (11) construction for major and minor projects; and (12) grants for the construction of state extended care facilities and veterans cemeteries.Administration.

Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding(Sec. 223) Prohibits the use ofVA from using funds appropriatedavailable in this title.or any other Act to replace the current system by which the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select and contract for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment.

(Sec. 209) Makes funds225) Prohibits the Secretary from this title availabledeclaring as excess to reimburse expenses of the Officeneeds of Resolution ManagementVA, or otherwise disposing or reducing the acreage of, federal lands and improvements at the OfficeDepartment of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, within specified limits.Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Medical Center, California.

(Sec. 215) Directs226) Requires the Secretary of Veterans AffairsVA to allow veterans eligible under existing VA medical care requirements and who residecontinue research into Gulf War Illness at levels not less than those made available in Alaska to obtain medical services from facilities supported by the Indian Health Service or tribal organizations.FY2007, within available funds contained in this Act.

(Sec. 217) Prohibits the227) Requires the: (1) VA from using funds available in this or any other ActInspector General (IG) to replaceestablish and maintain on the current system by whichhomepage of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks select and contractInternet website of the IG a mechanism for diabetes monitoring suppliesindividuals to anonymously report cases of VA waste, fraud, or abuse; and equipment.(2) Secretary to establish and maintain on the homepage of the VA's website a direct link to the IG's website.

(Sec. 219) Directs228) Authorizes the Secretary, in the national interest, to transfer up to $5 million to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support increased training of psychologists skilled in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and related disorders. Requires the Secretary to notify Congress of each transfer.

(Sec. 229) Requires: (1) semiannual reports from the Secretary to the appropriations committees on the current status of the reconstruction of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; and (2) a one-time report on whether that medical center should be designated as a Tier 1 polytrauma rehabilitation center or a polytrauma network site.

(Sec. 230) Increases (with a corresponding offset) the amounts made available for VA medical services, to be used for the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program.

(Sec. 231) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to the appropriations committees and certain subcommittees on VA access to medical services by veterans in remote rural areas.

(Sec. 232) Prohibits this Act's funds from being used during FY2008 to round down dollar amounts payable for veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the financial status ofclothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

(Sec. 234) Designates the VA clinic in Alpena, Michigan, as the &quot;Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van Wagoner Department of Veterans Health Administration.Affairs Clinic.&quot;

(Sec. 235) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a major medical facility lease in FY2008 to implement the recommendations outlined in the August, 2007 study of south Texas veterans' inpatient and specialty outpatient health care needs.

<b>Title III: Related Agencies</b> - Appropriates funds for: (1) the American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; (3) cemeterial expenses, Army; and (4) the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

<b>Title IV: General Provisions</b> - Specifies restrictions and authorizations regarding the use of funds appropriated in this Act.

(Sec. 408) Requires the DirectorComptroller General of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)United States to submit annuallyassess, and report to specified subcommittees on, the appropriations committees projected appropriations necessary foradequacy of the mental health services provided by the VA and DOD to continue providingfemale members of the Armed Forces and female veterans.

(Sec. 410) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to execute any instruments necessary health care to veteransrelease the city of Aurora, Colorado, from any conditions under which certain non-federal lands in Colorado (to be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for FY2009-FY2012.construction of a medical facility) would revert to the United States.

(Sec. 411) Appropriates funds for the Department of Homeland Security for state and local law enforcement entities for security and related costs associated with the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention in 2008.

(Sec. 409)412) Prohibits this Act'sthe use of funds from being used: (1) to purchase light bulbs unless such bulbs have the &quot;ENERGY STAR&quot; designation; or (2) for any action related to or promoting the expansion of the boundaries or size of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeasternSite, Colorado.
</summary>

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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 9/6/2007: Resolving differences -- Senate actions. Status: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Johnson; Inouye; Landrieu; Byrd; Murray; Reed; Nelson NE; Leahy; Hutchison; Craig; Brownback; Allard; McConnell; Bennett; Cochran.
</status>

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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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